Chapter 9: Not built that way

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• MEND ME IF YOU CAN.   Chapter 28: Jealousy 2

  I spent the entire shift barely keeping myself from unraveling. My composure clung to me by threads, each minute dragging with the weight of everything I was pretending not to feel. Every order I took, every smile I forced, every polite nod—it was all part of the exhausting performance I’d grown far too skilled at. But inside, I was a storm. A tangled mess of regret, guilt, and something else I couldn’t quite name.The second the clock hit closing time, I didn’t waste a breath. I grabbed my things with urgency and turned on my heels, desperate to vanish before anyone could stop me, before my resolve cracked open and spilled across the floor.But I wasn’t fast enough.“Leaving already?”Luke’s voice floated toward me, smooth and casual. I turned to see him approaching, tugging off his apron and folding it in his hand. There was something warm in his eyes—gentle, maybe even hopeful.I gave a short nod, paired with a noncommittal hum, already pivoting away when he added, almost uncertain

• MEND ME IF YOU CAN.   Chapter 27: Jealousy

  I could live with myself. I could carry the weight of every bad decision, every reckless word, every broken promise. But the one thing I couldn't live with—the one that gnawed at me like a quiet, relentless ache—was the thought that I had pushed him away. That I had driven him out of my life with my own hands.Now, I’m right back where I started. Back to being the version of myself I had worked so hard to grow out of—quiet, withdrawn, locked inside an invisible shell, too scared to peek through the cracks in the walls I so carefully built for protection. Walls that once kept me safe... but now only keep the world out. And him, especially him.Travian never came back after that night. Not in the way I needed him to. Everything between us dissolved, like ink running in water, until our connection—something that once felt inevitable—became almost unrecognizable. It was like watching a flower slowly wither, too far gone for water to save it.Our relationship—if you could even still call i

• MEND ME IF YOU CAN.   Chapter 26: My fault

  "excuse me" I didn't know what to feel and how to feel, but what I do know is sitting here wasn't the best idea so I carried myself to the restroom before any other theme could ask me what's going on.I paced back and forth, unable to understand what was going on. The door creaked open and Travian walked in and I lost it"What the hell was that?" I snapped, clearly angry and dissatisfied with what he did."Why the hell did you give him the go ahead? Did I ever say I want to date him?" I kept on talking as the situation seems to be sitting on me."Why are you so offended? Would you rather I kissed you before your crush and tell him you are mine?" Travian barked, visibly with the same level of energy as me."I'm not fucking yours, you hear me?" I restored. A wicked smirk appeared on his lips, he took slowly steady steps towards me and out of instinct, I retracted my steps behind."Are you sure about that?" He kept on approaching, and I kept on moving behind until there was no more space

• MEND ME IF YOU CAN.   Chapter 25: Uncertainty

  The weekend came and went so fast, it almost felt like it was being chased away by something invisible.It slipped through my fingers like fine sand, each moment dissolving quicker than the last—but every second spent with Travian lingered in my memory like a tender whisper I didn’t want to let go of.I never knew life could be this serene, this breathtakingly simple. Everything felt softer. My steps were lighter. My thoughts, clearer. It was a new kind of peace—one I never knew I needed until now. And God, I wish it could stay this way forever.I reached for the already-prepared cup of coffee resting on the service tray. The warmth radiating from the cup seeped into my palms, but it wasn’t just the coffee that had me feeling warm. My mood was floating on a cloud, and I could feel it spreading to everyone around me like an unspoken melody. The customers smiled more. Conversations sounded lighter. The entire cafe felt...beautiful.Maybe that's the Travian effect.“You look so lit,” Luk

• MEND ME IF YOU CAN.   Chapter 23: Craving.

  Thirty minutes have gone through the movie and I'm already feeling bored... well, not exactly bored, but something felt missing. There was a hollow ache blooming inside me—strange and persistent. I wanted something, something more, and just leaning into Travian’s arms wasn’t enough to satisfy it. His warmth should’ve been comforting, grounding. But it wasn’t. Not this time.I pushed myself away from him gently, my hands pressing against his chest to create some space—maybe what I needed was distance, some air to breathe, a moment to think. But the second our bodies parted, it worsened. Like pulling away from him only made the craving stronger. My entire body rebelled against the space I tried to give it. It turns out I didn’t want to be away from him. I wanted to be closer. Much, much closer.Why? What was this odd, wild feeling that had suddenly surged from nowhere—unannounced, uninvited—and was now tormenting me without mercy?I leaned back into Travian’s arms, but this time, I didn

• MEND ME IF YOU CAN.   Chapter 22: Hope

  Throughout the entire weekend, my life took on a rhythm that felt almost... normal. Good, even. Thanks to Travian. Ever since that day, he had slipped effortlessly into a role that felt like we were a couple — though technically we weren’t yet. But I didn’t stop him. I didn’t push back. Instead, I let him slowly, steadily win me over with his presence, his actions, his quiet insistence.Even though there was still so much we didn’t know about each other, and countless moments yet to uncover, I was happy. More than happy—relieved—that he never once left my side. Not even for a moment.He took care of me in ways I didn’t expect. He made sure I ate on time, serving me meals that were healthy and thoughtfully prepared. He drew baths for me, patiently waiting for me to step inside, then gently washing me as though it was the most natural thing in the world. He cleaned the house from top to bottom, smoothing the bedsheets until they looked untouched by sleep. He even took care of my laundry